On the recent episode of Allan Wu's podcast, Call Us Daddy, Mediacorp actor Shaun Chen, 46, spoke about life in Johor Bahru. 

Last year, Shaun, who is Malaysian and a Singapore permanent resident, revealed he moved to JB with his wife, Celine Chin, 35, who's also Malaysian, and their two daughters, Nellie, nine, and Neia, eight. 

When asked by Allan for the reason for the move, Shaun said: "The main reason is because [Celine and I] are both Malaysians. We could save on our living expenses, and in JB, we can afford to live in a bigger and more comfortable home."

Shaun also revealed there hasn't been a change in work. He is still a Mediacorp artiste, and travels to Singapore whenever there's work. 

Shaun's family and relatives still live in Malaysia, so the choice for him to move back came very naturally. 

When asked about how much one can save from living in Malaysia, Shaun said: "If an average person were to move to JB, it would be an estimated 30 to 50 per cent [in savings]."

"The area that I stay in [at Iskandar Puteri] is more spacious. Many years ago, the government announced that the area is like a second home for Singaporeans, but I don't know whether it's true," continued Shaun.

Shaun said he did not move because he had any problems living here. While some asked why he "downgraded", he does not see it as such, and finds that he has instead "upgraded his lifestyle". 

Shaun has been receiving questions about life in JB and he jokes about how he's become somewhat of "an ambassador" for the place. "I thought to myself. Oh no, do I need to make a list of what there is here?" he chuckled. 

Allan then asked if Shaun found any trouble with the long commute from JB to Singapore. 

Shaun said: "The traffic situation has actually gotten a lot better. It takes me around 45 minutes [to drive over]. If there's a jam, it'll take 1.5hrs, and if the jam is really bad, it might take two to three hours."

He's been caught in a jam before but is already an expert when it comes to avoiding peak traffic hours. 

"When I film until the wee hours and am so tired, I think about meeting my children and family and I don't feel so tired anymore," he said.

Space also plays a big factor in Shaun's increased quality of life. He used to live in an apartment in Singapore, but now has a landed house in JB, in a gated residential area where his children have more room to play, but also stay safe.

Shaun still loves how life was for him in Singapore, but he ultimately enjoys the "bigger space" he gets to enjoy in JB. "It's my country lah, that's the main thing," he said. 

According to Shaun, living in JB can also help Singaporeans learn to be more alert. "Singaporeans are too protected, so when you come to JB, like in Europe, you learn to be wary of thieves. If you're not exposed to situations like that, you're more likely to get robbed. You naturally learn to be more alert, and it's good for children to learn that  too," he explained.

Photos: Call Us Daddy/ YouTube, shaunchenhongyu/ Instagram